On the twenty-fourth day of the fifth month, the yiyou day, Chen Caozhi's third day back in the capital, he set out with Ran Sheng, Lu You, and the others for Gushu to pay his respects to Huan Wen. On the afternoon of the twenty-eighth, they reached the foot of Baizhu Mountain outside Gushu City. Huan Wen sent Military Adviser Gu Kaizhi and others to welcome them. As hearty and quick to laugh as ever, Gu Kaizhi jumped down from his horse and clasped Chen Caozhi's hand. "The wind and frost of the Northern Lands wear men down, yet your bearing surpasses even what it was before, Zizhong. It must be because you've been living in comfort. When will you invite me on a journey to Ji Province, to take in the magnificent mountains and rivers of Hebei?"
Chen Caozhi smiled. "Last year, Palace Attendant Gao went as imperial envoy. Why didn't you accompany him, Chang Kang? It was a journey of twenty thousand li."
Gu Kaizhi wrung his hands and sighed deeply. "What a pity! I was at the Western Headquarters and knew nothing of it. Otherwise, I would certainly have asked Duke Huan to let me join the mission." Before his sigh had faded, a smile appeared on his face again. "Zizhong, have you met my little Wei Qing? Wouldn't she make a fine match for your Bozhen?"
Chen Caozhi laughed heartily and told him how the two little children had met and fallen over at the Lu Residence the other day. Gu Kaizhi laughed too.
Just then, an official from the Western Headquarters came forward and saluted Chen Caozhi. "Provincial Governor Chen, do you still remember me?"
Chen Caozhi studied the young official, who was short but had clear, handsome features. He looked vaguely familiar. "I believe